This past weekend, the Los Angeles community mobilized to push back on an increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement apparatus. Rather than reassessing the approach, the White House escalated the situation by deploying the National Guard, Marines, and an increasing number of ICE agents to instill fear and create a hostile environment for people in Los Angeles. As a part of this escalation, some leading members of the community, such as David Huerta, President of SEIU California, were injured, arrested or detained. The recent news comes as the Hispanic Federation plans to convene leaders to commemorate the launch of its office in Los Angeles last week.
The “No Kings” protests were deliberately set to coincide with Flag Day and the U.S. Army anniversary parade, as well as Trump’s birthday. According to organizers, the juxtaposition is intended to protest not only policy decisions but also the public display of military power, which critics argue politicizes the armed forces. Trump’s reply to the protest was a tweet stating ‘ We are no kings at all.’
“These protests are protected by our freedom of expression, and the use of the National Guard is to instill fear and chaos eerily resembling the likes of anti-democratic regimes. It is even more concerning to see how protesters, including members of our partners at CHIRLA and BSP, were detained and injured as they exercised their right to express their opposition to overreaching immigration enforcement and lack of due process.” Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, said about the protest. “Rather than listening to the concerns of people in Los Angeles, CA Governor Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass and working to de-escalate the situation, we are only seeing a doubling down on the militarized response. This weekend’s violence against protestors is an indicator of how this administration will continue to escalate its actions against U.S. citizens and immigrants.”
As this news breaks, the Hispanic Federation is preparing to gather with partners in Los Angeles—united in purpose and urgency—to confront the federal overreach threatening communities and to chart bold, collective strategies to fill the void left by cuts to critical programs. They stand firmly with partners on the ground who are defending immigrant and Latino communities—and unequivocally support their right to reject overreaching policies that seek to criminalize and dehumanize our people.
“The story of Los Angeles is inseparable from the story of immigrants—who have built, sustained, and enriched this city for generations. Any attempt to vilify or remove immigrants from our communities ignores just how integral they are to our schools, businesses, and cultural life.” German Cash, California State Director at Hispanic Federation, said. “Angelenos know this truth, which is why we are unapologetic in our defense of immigrant communities and outraged by the violence and intimidation we are witnessing in our streets.”
